Bayer Leverkusen have tied defender Edmond Tapsoba to a new contract in order to fend off interest from Liverpool.
Tapsoba had been tentatively named as a target for Liverpool at various points across the summer transfer window. However, it was Tottenham Hotspur who seemed more likely to sign him.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old ultimately stayed where he was. Now, according to a report from journalist Christian Falk for Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, Tapsoba’s commitment to Leverkusen has been reinforced.
In the report, Falk claims that the Burkina Faso international’s contract has been renewed until 2028. This is said to be in direct retaliation to ‘attacks’ from Liverpool, who are claimed to have been ‘always interested’ in Tapsoba.
Rather tongue in cheek, Reds sporting director Jorg Schmadtke is told to ‘save himself a call’ in January, or ‘pack a lot of money in his suitcase.’
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This is quite a bizarre little passage from Falk. Although Tapsoba had been mentioned a couple of times in relation to Liverpool, he had never seemed like an especially live target.
It’s obviously true that the Reds were after a defender, should the right opportunity present itself.
But this report suggests that Liverpool were actually trying pretty darn hard to get Tapsoba to Anfield, and will perhaps continue to do so.
Now that he’s signed a new, long-term deal, that might be harder to pull off.
Previous estimations have put Tapsoba’s value at around £44m. But armed with a new contract and in a Leverkusen side doing well under Xabi Alonso, that’s likely to have increased now.
As a result, we think this development might well have its desired effect. Liverpool won’t overpay for players they don’t feel are worth it. Even in today’s distorted market, they’ve often kept to that line.
Prior to pen being put to paper on a new deal, Tapsoba might have looked possible. Now getting him through the door is undoubtedly less so.